The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1887-05-11
Tha 9aily 8nltstin
WEDNESDAY MAY. If 1887.
THE MATRIMONIAL DEC0y DUCKS Of
pAPlo

PAhIS.
Some months ago couple of adj
venturesses were arrested for having
worked a matrimonial agency, which
was in reality an effective mach-
merry for decoying men on the look
out for rich wives. The dupes, after
having been relieved of round sum
of money, were married to sham
heiress, and then sent about their
business. The principals of the
agency were bogus Baroness de
Mortier, alias De la Rochelle, and
her attendant cavalier, n swindler
named Lecourtois. These two sue.
ceeded in quitting the country, and
the Paris Correctional Tribunal,
which has just disposed of the
matter, had accordingly TO deal
with the sham heiress and Mdme.
Leprout, both Of whom had been
conducting a tolerably prosperous
matrimonial business OH their own
account after their principals had
left France for reasons known to the
police. The dupe was introduced,
after having answered the questions,
to goodlooking young female of
presumable Anglo-American origin,
whose name, according to the police
reports, is Leal. The part of the
maternal relative was generally
played by Mdme. Leprout, while
the man Lecourtois acted as the
paternal or avuncular protector of
the heiress. Mdle. Leal, who was
the chief criminal arrested, said that
she had come to Paris from England
about three years ago, in order to
live with man. She subsequently
accepted an offer to act as De Nor
tiers decoy duck. The first wit
ness for the prosecution who was
called was shopman from Limoges,
NJ. Lefevre. He saw an advertise
ment that an English heiress, having
about 100000 TO her fortune, but
slightly damaged, was in the market.
He Immediately rushed to Paris
with all the money he could collect,
was introduced to the divine Leal,
spent nearly f200 in decorating that
peerless beauty with jewels and gold,
and went with her to London. He
passed n happy honeymoon in the
British capital, visiting the Alham-
bra and other places of entertain
ment, and living with his bride and
her mother in the best hotels.
After that he returned to Paris,
whittier he had summoned his friends
from Limoges, who soon informed
him of the painful fact that he had
been duped. M. PAbsolu, Pari-
sian barber, paid fG to be intro
duced to the daughter of a Spanish
general in her box at the opera.
The senorita, however, professed
that she found M. PAbsolu deficient
in educational attainments, so he
was left to the tender mercies of
Marseilles maiden, who fleeced him
of Gao. A stockbroker who had
been bamboozled made desperate
dash after the dowry which had
been promised to him. He married
Leal in London, mt a registrars
Office, and entered at once into
financial matters. He soon found
out, however, that after having
spent his money he had been fooled
to the top of his bent. A country
gentleman from TOuraine had not
only lost money on Leal, for whom
he hired box at the opera, but
had long kept her supplied with
game from his preserves. The trial
terminated by the condemnation of
Leal to four months Imprisonment.
Leprout was acquitted; while Le-
courtier and the sham baroness were
condemned by default Home
News.